Mission Statement & History

Mission Statement

ASAP is dedicated to strengthening community awareness through substance abuse education and prevention services to individuals, schools, industry, affected individuals and families residing in the State of Alabama.

History

The Agency for Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP), formerly the Regional Alcoholism Council for Calhoun and Cleburne Counties was established on February 7, 1973, along with four other Alcoholism Councils in the State of Alabama as an affiliate of the National Council on Alcoholism. The purpose of the organization was to increase the understanding of alcoholism, its nature and treatment for the purpose of reducing the incidence of alcoholism in Calhoun and Cleburne Counties, Alabama. In 1984, the agency’s focus expanded to ‘substance abuse’ education and prevention services as the increase of substance abuse in the community and in the nation began to rise.

In 1987, the Regional Alcoholism Council formally became the Agency for Substance Abuse Prevention. Today, ASAP provides substance abuse prevention education and intervention services to: schools, community centers, Boys and Girls Clubs, industries, churches and a variety of other organizations and institutions throughout the community. ASAP also provides an after-school tutorial program located in the heart of the Barber Terrace Housing Complex in the City of Anniston, Alabama.

ASAP sponsors annual Red Ribbon Week programs and events for elementary, middle and high school aged youth. The agency also awards multiple scholarships to graduating high school seniors through an essay competition on avoiding lifestyles of substance abuse.